BUS 220: Principles of Finance
Online Course: Fall 2008

Dear Student,

Welcome to the Fall 2008 semester at St. Charles Community College and BUS 220–N1 “Principles of Finance”. This course is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of the role of a financial manager in the business organization and offer many basic techniques in finance area. It will help to prepare you for a career in finance. Topics include financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, valuation of cash flows, valuation of stocks and bonds, cost of capital, dividend policy.

The online option of this course is designed to give you a great deal of time and place flexibility in taking this course. It does require a great deal of self-discipline on your part to do the required work without having scheduled classes. We will use the computer and Internet for most of our interaction and exchanges. In addition, all homework and quizzes will be completed and submitted via computer so it is essential that you have access to the Internet. I will review this at the MANDATORY ORIENTATION SESSION. You must attend to receive your course password and instructions: (Choose one to attend)

Saturday, August 16 - TECH 101 - Orientation – 9:00 a.m.

Monday, August 18 - TECH 101 - Orientation - 6:00 p.m.

If you cannot attend one of these sessions you must contact me to make alternate arrangements.

The only other times you will have to attend any session in person will be for exams, one midterm exam and one final exam. There are two times available for each exam:

Saturday, October 4 – HUM 216 – Midterm - 9:00 a.m.

Monday, October 6 – SSB 1204 – Midterm - 6:00 p.m.

Monday, December 8 - SSB 1204 - Final - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 9 – SSB 1204 - Final - 6:00 p.m.

You may order the text for the class from the bookstore either in person, by telephone, or online via computer: www.stchas.edu/bookstore.

We will go over how to use the Internet for this course at the orientation session. If you have ANY questions, write them down, and we will answer them at the orientation session. I look forward to interacting with you in exploring the world of finance.

WebCT/Blackboard courses will not be available to students until 5 working days prior to the start of the semester.

Litao Zhong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Business & Computer Science Department
Technology 205 lzhong@stchas.edu 636-922-8533